How to uninstall programs from Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation when after buying a device is full of unnecessary software. Pre-installed applications, or bloatware, take up valuable memory space and can slow down the interface. For many users, the question becomes urgent: how to effectively remove programs from the shiomi without harming the operating system.

Modern MIUI shell and its successor HyperOS offer flexible management tools, but access to some system functions is limited. Standard methods allow you to get rid of most user applications, but deep cleaning requires more advanced techniques. In this article, we will discuss everything from simple actions on the menu to using debugging on USB.

It is important to understand that mindlessly removing critical components can lead to unstable operation of the gadget or even to a cyclical reboot. Removal of system packages responsible for the operation of the interface (SystemUI) is guaranteed to lead to the inoperability of the device without flashing, so before starting any operations, it is necessary to clearly identify the purpose of the removed software.

Standard removal of user applications

The easiest and safest way to free up space is to remove programs you installed yourself from the Google Play store or GetApps. Android allows you to do this directly from your desktop or through settings. This method requires no root rights and is completely safe for system stability.

To perform a desktop operation, find an icon of an unnecessary program. Click on it and hold your finger for one to two seconds. The screen will display a context menu where you want to select the option "Delete." If you use desktop editing mode, just drag the icon to the basket located at the top of the display.

The alternative path is through the system menu. Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. In the list that opens, find the program you want. Click on the name to open the page, and select the Delete button at the bottom of the screen. The system will request confirmation of action.

It’s worth noting that some built-in Xiaomi services, such as Mi Video or Mi Music, can also be removed this way unless they’re critical to the shell’s operation.However, system components labeled “Impossible to Remove” require other approaches.

Disabling system applications through settings

If standard deletion is not available, the operating system offers a forced stop and disable feature, which does not physically delete files, but completely blocks them from working, hides them from the list of applications and stops background processes, and this is an effective way to combat intrusive software.

To use this feature, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the program you want to block (like Google TV or YouTube) in the list. Click on it and select the option to “Disable.” The system will warn you that the application will be removed from the home screen and will stop updating.

Once confirmed, the application will disappear from the launcher and its processes will be frozen, which allows you to free up RAM and reduce battery consumption, and it is important that the user data inside the application will also be cleared when you turn off.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable system components with names like System Interface, Task Manager, or Security, which can cause a touch screen to crash or make calls.

In some versions of MIUI, the “Disable” button may not be active for certain services, which would require the use of developer rights or a connection to a computer, and you can return the application to working state from the same menu by selecting the “Enable” option.

Using Developer Mode and Debugging over USB

To get deeper control of the software, you need to activate the hidden developer menu, which gives you access to advanced animation settings, USB testing, and, importantly for our theme, allows the computer to manage apps on your smartphone.

Activation is done as follows: go to Settings → About the phone. Find the line "Version." MIUI» (or "Version" OS» in HyperOS) and quickly click on it 7-10 A pop-up notice will appear saying, "You've become a developer».

Then you need to turn on the debugging itself. Go to Settings. → Additional settings → For developers, find the item "Debugging by USB» You can activate it. You can also turn on the option «USB-Debugging (security settings) if available in your version of the software.

• 📱 Security: When connecting to a new computer, always check the key print RSA smartphone-screen.
• 🔋 Power: Developer mode can slightly increase battery consumption in the background.
• ⚙️ Access: Without this mode, tools cannot be used ADB system-software.

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If the item "For developers" disappeared from the menu after rebooting, just repeat the procedure of clicking on the firmware version - the settings are saved, but the login to the menu must be activated again.

Remove applications via ADB (for advanced users)

The most powerful cleaning method is the use of the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) platform, which allows you to send commands directly to the operating system, bypassing the limitations of the user interface, and allows you to remove even those applications that do not have a “Delete” button.

You will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and a USB cable to work with. First, install the drivers for your device and the SDK Platform Tools platform. After connecting your smartphone with USB debugging enabled, open the command line on your PC.

Enter the adb device command to check the connection. If that's correct, you'll see the serial number of the device. To delete a particular packet, use the uninstall command. The syntax is as follows:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packet

For example, to remove a standard browser, the command will look like an adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser. --user 0 flag means that the application is only removed for the current user, which is a safe way to modify the system without losing the rights to restore.

Use of specialized slits (Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools)

Manually entering commands can be difficult for an untrained user and can be fraught with typos. There are graphical shells such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater. These programs automatically identify the connected device and offer a list of applications to remove with clear descriptions.

Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools (Szaki developer) is particularly popular with Xiaomi owners, not only removes apps, but also allows you to turn off ads in system services, change region and clear cache. The program interface visualizes all installed packages, marking safe to remove in green.

To work with the utility, download the archive from the official repository, unpack it and launch the start.bat file (for Windows). Connect your phone, allow debugging on your smartphone screen and press the Debloater button in the program interface. A list will open where you can tick off the extra and click Uninstall.

⚠️ Attention: Even in automated utilities, there are risks. Always read the description of the package before you delete it. If you are not sure what the program is doing (for example, Analytics or the software «MSA»), It is better to leave it or to know its function in the search engine.

The main advantage of these tools is that they can be mass-deleted, so you can pick a dozen unnecessary Facebook, Twitter or gaming launchers and clean the system with a single click, which saves you a lot of time compared to manually typing commands.

Recovery of Remote System Components

If you delete something that's superfluous during the cleaning process and the system starts to malfunction, don't panic. Since we used the user-0 deletion method, the application files themselves remain in the system partition, and they can be easily restored without flashing them.

To return the remote packet, you will need to reconnect the smartphone to the computer and open the command line. Use the install-existing command.

adb shell cmd package install-existing name.packet

For example: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayer. Once the command is executed, the application will appear in the installed list and start working as if nothing had happened, which is the main advantage of the ADB method over the full wiping system.

Graphics utilities like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools typically have a tab called Backup or Restore, where you can see the log of the deleted packages, and you just select the one you want and press the recovery button, which makes the experimentation process as safe as possible.

• 🔄 Recoil: Always save the list of deleted packets in a text file.
• 💾 Backup: Before major changes, make a full backup of your data.
• 🛠 Tools: Use proven open source utilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The optimal balance between system purity and stability is to remove only obviously unnecessary applications (games, third-party services, duplicates), leaving system components marked "System" or "Android" intact.